The Gift Shed's Bloghttps://thegiftshed.wordpress.com
Bookbinding, sketching, and collecting street artSun, 24 Sep 2017 11:59:27 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/07c90b9e19433693e5a1dfdeb13fd7f1?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngThe Gift Shed's Bloghttps://thegiftshed.wordpress.com
Sunday Sketchblog #161https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/sunday-sketchblog-161/
https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/sunday-sketchblog-161/#respondSun, 24 Sep 2017 11:59:11 +0000http://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/sunday-sketchblog-161/]]>Today we arrived back in London after our annual jaunt to Scotland. Here are the postcards I painted in Orkney, plus one special one from Yorkshire.

]]>https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/sunday-sketchblog-161/feed/0thegiftshedStreet Art #180https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/22/street-art-180/
https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/22/street-art-180/#respondFri, 22 Sep 2017 09:45:05 +0000http://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/?p=11162]]>Some street art I spotted myself, which makes a bit of a change! This selection was all found en route from my house in west London to Brick Lane (where I was heading for beigels).

]]>https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/22/street-art-180/feed/0thegiftshedstreet art_180_01street art_180_02street art_180_03street art_180_04street art_180_05street art_180_06street art_180_07street art_180_08street art_180_09You can never have too many…https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/you-can-never-have-too-many/
https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/you-can-never-have-too-many/#commentsMon, 18 Sep 2017 10:09:35 +0000http://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/?p=11391]]>…bridesmaids. This is something I learned recently when I was asked if I would make notebooks as gifts from a bride to her bridesmaids. Sure, I said, no problem. How many bridesmaids?

Nine.

I can’t lie, that threw me a bit, but in the end it turned out to be terrific fun because I got to design nine different notebooks. The bride wrote down a few words about each woman, and off I went to select papers and binding styles.

An eclectic mix, let’s show off each notebook individually so you can have a proper look. Although it was occasionally challenging to find the right paper for each cover, it was very satisfying to rummage through my studio trying to find ‘the one’. Even more so to then decide which binding style would be best, and of course the question of thread, and inner lining – oh the choices! These books have been made using everything from scrapbook paper through to a repurposed paper carrier bag, and some of the vintage linen thread is older than I am! I hope that the bridesmaids like them as much as the bride and I do

]]>https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/17/sunday-sketchblog-160/feed/0thegiftshedgeorge_01george_02Street art #179https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/street-art-179/
https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/street-art-179/#respondFri, 15 Sep 2017 09:35:17 +0000http://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/?p=11153]]>Another piece from abroad, and this time it’s Namur in Belgium (photos by my friend Paula, thank you!). The first one is my favourite, although the trees have a lovely simplicity about them.

A street art special edition that doesn’t have any street art in it. You’re probably a bit confused!

I received a card in the post from Claire, and it really touched me. The card read

Thank you for making me look at the world that little bit more closely when I walk around.

Isn’t that lovely? It really does give me a warm glow to think that at least one other person is now going through the world and noticing things that they might previously have overlooked. The world is beautiful, sometimes in unexpected ways, and we rush around os much that things get missed. Slow down, take your time, and look around you.

It’s almost time for my annual holiday! I”ll be off to Scotland for a couple of weeks and as such my Etsy shop is now closed until 24th September.

]]>https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/shop-temporarily-closed/feed/0thegiftshedgonebeachcominStreet Art: Special Edition #19https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/street-art-special-edition-19/
https://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/2017/09/04/street-art-special-edition-19/#respondMon, 04 Sep 2017 09:40:38 +0000http://thegiftshed.wordpress.com/?p=11351]]>It’s been a while since I last did a special edition, and this one is going out because I’ve got regular street art posts scheduled right through to November and I think this one should be seen sooner! A new Nomadic Garden sprang up in Claremont Road, Queens Park (London, W10) earlier this year and if you’re nearby you should pop in and check it out. I had a quick peek in July and the garden was already starting to take shape. I love these projects that make good use of areas that are waiting for redevelopment, it’s wonderful to see something beautiful and/or practical going on instead of just a fenced off bare site. Visit their Facebook page to learn more.